Chapter 62: Then Give It to Me!
Chu Ke Qing had been harboring some doubts.
That elder named Chen Yan had stepped in to help Boss Fang—this she could understand. Boss Fang was a man of wealth and connections, known for his generosity in making allies among masters of the Mystic Arts.
But those three ruffians from the Extreme Net Café? Chu Ke Qing had her assistant investigate them—they were nothing but local street thugs, bottom-feeders not even worthy of being called gangsters.
Why would such a high-level figure, a master who could speak celestial edicts into existence, trouble himself with nobodies like them?
Yet, as soon as she stepped through the threshold of the Extreme Net Café, her confusion dissipated.
Standing at the entrance, she wrinkled her brow at the stale, smoke-heavy air within. Then, her gaze landed upon the woman behind the counter.
Perhaps it was because the New Year was approaching, or maybe it was the joy of having her brothers freed from prison, but the Boss Lady seemed to be in high spirits. She had even applied some light makeup today. With the café’s heater running at full blast, she wore only a thin, snug-fitting cashmere sweater that accentuated her slender waist and the graceful contours of her upper body.
Her features were striking—not the artificial beauty of high society, but a natural, unpolished charm. She possessed that rare balance between girlish innocence and mature allure, a blend of youth and experience.
“Ah… so that’s how it is.” Chu Ke Qing let out a soft sigh.
Then—without hesitation—she turned on her heel and left.
This changed everything.
One look at the Boss Lady, and Chu Ke Qing immediately realized that the offering she had prepared as an apology was far from sufficient.
If Elder Chen Yan had taken action over this woman, then their relationship was not shallow.
She had initially thought it was a mere coincidence, that those three street rats had unknowingly stumbled into a thread of fate connecting them to a powerful master.
Her original plan had been simple—offer a mere hundred thousand yuan as a token of goodwill, settle the matter, and be done with it.
Now, it was clear—her approach had been too careless.
Chu Ke Qing left without a word. The Boss Lady never noticed her, her eyes fixed intently on the drama playing on her screen.
—
Her departure did not take long. Once back in her car, she ordered her assistant to handle something while she leaned back against her seat, closing her eyes in meditation. Years of cultivation had accustomed her to such moments of quiet discipline, making even idle time an opportunity to refine her spirit.
Dusk fell.
By the time her assistant returned, the sky had dimmed into evening. He hurriedly approached, handing her an envelope.
“Elder Zi, it’s done.”
Chu Ke Qing accepted it, pulled out the contents for a quick glance, and nodded in satisfaction.
Only then did she exit the car, cross the street, and step into the Extreme Net Café once more.
The Boss Lady was still at the counter, still engrossed in her screen. It wasn’t until she heard a soft, nasal-tinged voice that she snapped out of her focus.
“Excuse me.”
She looked up—and was taken aback.
The woman before her was stunning.
She wore a fitted cheongsam in a muted shade of violet, its delicate embroidery unmistakably hand-stitched—an elegant luxury. Perched upon her nose was a pair of finely crafted glasses that only accentuated her allure. And her face…
Bewitching.
The kind of beauty that was dangerous.
“Uh… are you here to use the computers?” the Boss Lady asked hesitantly. This woman’s demeanor and attire didn’t fit the usual clientele of her small, run-down café.
“Would you mind if I took a moment of your time?” Chu Ke Qing’s tone was polite. Seeing the confusion in the Boss Lady’s eyes, she gently added, “I am Luo Qing’s relative.”
At those words, the Boss Lady’s expression darkened.
“But… wasn’t the case already closed? You… you people—what more do you want?”
Sensing her unease, Chu Ke Qing shook her head and offered a smile. “Please don’t misunderstand. I’m not here for trouble—I came with different intentions. Could we talk somewhere more private?”
The Boss Lady hesitated.
She cast a glance around the café. Her three younger brothers were out drinking with friends tonight—they wouldn’t be back anytime soon.
“…Alright,” she finally said. “Upstairs, then. If you don’t mind.”
“I don’t mind.” Chu Ke Qing smiled.
—
Two minutes later, in the third-floor bedroom, the Boss Lady sat in her chair, eyes widened in shock, staring at the woman in violet.
On the small wooden table between them sat a receipt.
“I spoke with your landlord,” Chu Ke Qing said calmly. “I’ve paid for three years of your café’s lease. This is the receipt from him.”
The Boss Lady sat there, stunned.
Three years’ rent… already paid?
Her café occupied a small building—not a grand space, but situated in University Town, where rent was far from cheap.
Three years of rent… that’s nearly a million yuan.
Chu Ke Qing continued, her tone composed yet firm.
“As for Luo Qing—he made his own mistakes, which led to his own retribution. Your younger brothers were merely caught in the storm, and for that, they suffered legal trouble. You, too, were forced to endure fear and uncertainty.”
The Boss Lady was speechless.
This… what was this supposed to mean?
My brothers attacked him, and now his family is coming to tell me he deserved it?
And—on top of that—they’re giving me money?!
Something wasn’t right.
Then, it hit her.
She recalled how Luo Qing had treated her with unusual deference that day, after she had picked up her brothers.
Her gaze fell to the receipt on the table.
Could it be…?
Could Luo Qing have set his sights on her?
Was this his way of buying her favor?
The moment the Mistress of the Net Cafe subtly leaned back, her face wary, Chu Ke Qing, ever perceptive, quickly discerned the shift in atmosphere. She gave a slight shake of her head and spoke gently.
“There’s no need to overthink things. I come with no hidden intentions—only to offer my sincerest apology.”
Pausing briefly, she took out her phone, flipping through the albums until she found the image—Luo Qing’s broken leg. She turned the screen towards the Mistress, letting her see it clearly.
“I have already meted out harsh punishment upon Luo Qing. This incident was our fault, and I bow my head in absolute remorse. My visit today is to express our stance with the utmost sincerity.”
Her words, soft as drifting clouds, only deepened the Mistress’s unease.
It wasn’t that she was foolish—rather, such an event was beyond the realm of ordinary experience. Who in the world had ever encountered something like this?
After a long silence, she hesitantly shook her head, her voice betraying her bewilderment.
“I… I don’t understand. What is it that you all want? No, really—what do you stand to gain from this? I just run a small net cafe. There’s no wealth to be had here. What exactly do you seek?”
Chu Ke Qing hesitated for a moment, furrowing her brows as she studied the Mistress. Then, she sighed and rose from her seat.
“There is a name card inside the envelope. If you ever face trouble within Jin Ling Prefecture, you may seek me out. In this place, I can still lend a hand where needed.”
With that, she let out a self-deprecating chuckle.
“As for what I seek… I may as well speak plainly. I have no extravagant requests—only that you might, in the presence of Mister Chen Yan, say a few kind words on my behalf.”
Having said her piece, Chu Ke Qing gave a slight bow before turning to leave.
The Mistress remained frozen in place, as though struck by lightning, struggling to process what had just transpired. Her mind reeled as she glanced down at the receipt on the table.
What had she just said?
Mister Chen Yan?
Little Yan?
With a sudden intake of breath, she bolted downstairs—only to see a sleek, black sedan disappearing down the road, already far beyond reach.
She steadied herself, dashed back to the cafe counter, and immediately dialed Chen Yan’s number.
The call connected swiftly.
“Hello? Mistress?” His voice was warm, familiar.
Yet she found herself suddenly at a loss for words.
[Little Yan? Was it really you? Was it because of you that my brother was released?]
[And more than that… they even came bearing such extravagant gifts as recompense?]
[Just who are you, really?]
[And…]
[Why would you go to such great lengths to help me?]
Her face flushed crimson as an absurd thought flickered across her mind.
“Hello?” On the other end, Chen Yan’s voice sounded again. “Mistress, is something wrong?”
“…Mm.” Taking a deep breath, she steadied herself, forcing her tone to remain even, suppressing the slight tremor in her voice. “Something just happened… A woman named Chu came to the net cafe looking for me.”
His voice immediately turned serious. “And then?”
“She… she said she came to apologize.”
Carefully, she recounted the events, leaving nothing out.
At the end of her retelling, she hesitated before softly asking, “So… it was you, wasn’t it, Little Yan?”
A moment of silence. Then, a familiar chuckle—one she had heard countless times over the past four years.
“Hahaha, yeah, it was me.” Chen Yan did not bother denying it, his tone lighthearted, almost casual. “Ahh, so much for keeping a low profile. I guess I’ll have to come clean—I’m actually a ridiculously wealthy heir.”
The Mistress: “……”
“Alright, listen. That Chu woman wasn’t there to cause trouble. Take what she offered, it’s yours.”
“That’s unacceptable!” she blurted out, her voice sharp with urgency. “That sum isn’t small! They only lowered their heads because of you, and they even gave so much on top of that. Whether this ends in gratitude or resentment, it’s all on your account. I can’t accept it!”
[And besides…]
[You? A wealthy heir?]
[Do you think I only just met you yesterday? Over four years, you’ve been broke as a beggar, mooching off my cafe’s free internet so many times I’ve lost count. You’ve even scrounged food off me!]
“Little Yan, I’m serious,” she said firmly. “I can’t take this money. If anything, it should go to you.”
Chen Yan pondered for a moment before replying lazily, “Then just think of it as my prepaid internet fee.”
“Tens of thousands? Internet fee?”
[At that rate, you’d have prepaid until your retirement!]
“Little Yan!” The Mistress’s voice grew exasperated.
“I’m busy,” he sighed. “I’ll think about it and get back to you in a couple of days.”
“No, wait, what could possibly be more important than a sum this large?” She was exasperated by his casual attitude. “What are you even doing right now?”
His voice drifted over, cool and distant. “Setting up a memorial tablet for my father.”
The Mistress: “……”
She fell silent for a long moment before slowly responding, “…Alright. Then… you go take care of that first.”
And with that, Chen Yan ended the call.
—
Sighing, Chen Yan rolled his eyes.
[Alright, alright. I get it!]
[Elder Zi, you’re unfathomably generous!]
[I can see your sincerity loud and clear!]
[But honestly!]
[President Fang already called me this afternoon, telling me that Chu Ke Qing had come in person to apologize and even offered a substantial sum of money. And now, the Mistress just got the same treatment?]
[No, really—]
[If you’re so eager to be generous…]
[Why not just give the money to me directly?!]
[When I said not to trouble me, I meant not to come looking for me with conflict—]
[But if you’re coming to deliver wealth, I would gladly throw open the gates of welcome!]
“Could it be…” he muttered to himself, “that I’ve played the role of the ‘mysterious master’ too convincingly?”
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation